Smith Street has changed for good – which is good news for all drinkers
Smith Street's bar scene is nothing to sniff at. Within a two kilometer strip, you can go to multiple pubs, see a gig at Yah Yah's, sip on a prohibition-era cocktail or try over 50 taps of craft beer in one venue. Once you've sipped your way down the street, discover all the top-notch restaurants that Smith has to offer or extend your drinking journey to the rest of Fitzroy.
When it comes to providing the fun, Mr Wow’s can do no wrong. The most party-ready of the Thank You, Come Again stable, this Smith Street retreat draws the hordes for hotly contested ping-pong, pool and bocce matches. This isn’t the place to go for a wanky, pages-long cocktail list or 20 beers on tap. Instead, gather a group for jugs of rum-sloshed cocktails, bottles of Pikes Pilsner or Red Duck Amber Ale, or a wallet-friendly glass of wine from the short, sharp list.
Yah Yah's is run by blokes you can trust when it comes to rock'n'roll – and that ethos remained true when it was handed over from Jon Perring and Andy Portokallis to Cherry Bar's James Young. You'll now have to pay to see all bands ("because I want to see bands get paid properly," says Young), but with a wealth of great grungy talent, it'll be worth it.
Melbourne is a city that really knows how to do pubs. From beer halls with more than 50 craft beer taps to cozy locals with a great fireplace, there's a pub for every occasion.
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